Romanian Medical Journal (Sep 2020)
Correlation of regulatory T cells in chronic lymphocytic leukemia characterized by high-affinity CD25 expression with serum IL-2 values, IGVH mutational status, Rai stage, and therapeutic lines
Abstract
The impact of the importance of regulatory T cells (Treg) in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is still controversial and no consensus has been reached on whether the effects generated by these cells are positive or negative in terms of tumor progression. Regulatory T cells comprise subsets of cells with distinct phenotypic and functional properties that may influence CLL prognosis. CD4 + Treg cells expressing the IL-2Rα (CD25) play a vital role in the control of adaptive immune responses, in disorders of Treg cell function and frequency in patients with immune conditions. Objective. In our study that included 51 patients with CLL we tried to investigate these hypotheses and assess whether there is a correlation between serum elevated IL-2 levels and IGVH status, Rai stage, therapeutic lines or are independent risk factors. Materials and methods. The study was performed on a group of 51 female and male patients diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, registered by the Hematology Clinic of the University Emergency Hospital of Bucharest, between October 2013 and November 2019. In the study, patients were evaluated clinically and paraclinically both at the time of diagnosis and in dynamics, after specific treatment, until the end of the study, death or loss of evidence. Results. The study did not reveal a positive correlation between CD25 expression of regulatory CD4 + T cells with serum IL-2 values, IGVH status, Rai stage or therapeutic lines. Discussion. The limits of the study are the relatively small group of subjects because chronic lymphocytic leukemia is a rare hematological pathology and the fact that the subjects included in the study are not followed for a longer period of time. Conclusions. The Treg identification strategy by expression CD25 high does not find a statistically significant correlation with the serum level of IL-2 and is independent of the Rai stage, the risk groups or the chemotherapy history of the patients.
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